Device for storing and dispensing cut wires and the like

ABSTRACT

Each of a plurality of elongated, hollow tubes has a plurality of male and female locking segments spaced about its outer periphery for interlocking with other tubes to form a composite unit. Each tube also is closed at its bottom end and is provided with a side opening adjacent said bottom end for removal of cut wires and the like stored in the tube.

United States Patent Harold E. Edmundson Beaverton, Oreg. 856,752

Sept. 10, 1969 Jan. 1 l, 1972 Scappoose Industries, Inc. Scappoose,Oreg.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee DEVICE FOR STORING ANDDISPENSING CUT WIRES AND THE LIKE 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

Int. CL... 865d 83/02 Field of Search 221/311, 131,132, 282; 21 1/86,94; 52/589, 594; 46/25, 31

Primary Examiner- Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerJohn P. Shannon,Jr. Attorney-Oliver D. Olson ABSTRACT: Each of a plurality of elongated,hollow tubes has a plurality of male and female locking segments spacedabout its outer periphery for interlocking with other tubes to form acomposite unit. Each tube also is closed at its bottom end and isprovided with a side opening adjacent said bottom end for removal of cutwires and the like stored in the tube.

DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING CUT WIRES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to devices for storing anddispensing cut wires and the like for use at production stations whereelectrical harness assemblies and other products are made.

Prior devices of the class described are characterized by a constructionin which a plurality of tubes are mounted upon or formed integral withan external rack or housing by which the tubes are supported in properlyspaced arrangement. Such a rack or housing represents a substantialcost. Moreover it generally contributes to excessive bulkiness of theunit and thus utilizes an excessive amount of bench space. Stillfurther, since the rack or housing will accommodate a fixed number oftubes, it is often necessary to utilize a plurality of such racks orhousings at a given production station to accommodate the storage anddispensing of the required number of wires or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its basic concept the present inventioninvolves the provision on each of a plurality of hollow tubes of maleand female interlock means by which to interconnect the tubes in anydesired number and arrangement.

It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principalobjective of this invention is achieved; namely, to overcome thedisadvantages of prior devices as enumerated hereinbefore.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a foreshortened, fragmentaryfront elevation of a device for storing and dispensing cut wires and thelike embodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation as viewed from the left in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3- 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating one form of male and femaleinterlocking segments for connecting together a plurality of the tubes.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a second form of male and femaleinterlocking segments.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a third form of male and femaleinterlocking segments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring particularly to FIGS.1 and 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated a plurality of elongated,hollow tubes 10 directly interconnected to form a composite unit whichincludes a plurality of rows of tubes. In accordance with thisinvention, the assembly of such a unit is accommodated by the provisionon each tube of two male locking segments and two female lockingsegments, with all locking segments disposed at 90 intervals around theperiphery of the tube. In this manner the length of each row and thenumber of rows may be varied as desired to provide a unit of any desirednumber of tubes in any desired configuration.

The male and female locking segments may be provided in a variety offorms. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 each elongatedtube is of generally rectangular cross section and each of two sides isformed with a dovetail groove extending longitudinally the full lengthof the tube. Each groove is defined by an inner wall 12 and laterallyspaced sidewalls 14 which converge outwardly from the opposite sides ofthe inner wall. The remaining two sides are formed with outwardlyprojecting dovetail tabs which also extend longitudinally the fulllength of the tube. Each tab is defined by an outer wall 16 andlaterally spaced sidewalls 18 which converge inwardly from the oppositesides of the outer wall. The complimentary dovetail grooves and tabs aredimensioned to interlock with each other frictionally along their entirelength, whereby adjacent interconnected tubes are locked together firmlyin any desired position of relative longitudinal adjustment.

Although the tubes may be made of metal, by stamping or extrusion, theyare preferably formed by the extrusion of synthetic thermoplastic resinand then cut to desired length. The inherent warpage of such extrudedtubings contributes to the frictional interlocking of the male andfemale segments, as will be understood.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing the male and female locking segments are formedas separate components which are bonded or otherwise secured to theouter sides of the tubing 10. The female segments are formed as anextruded strip of synthetic thermoplastic resin in the form of adovetail groove defined by the inner wall 20 and the laterally spacedoutwardly converging sidewalls 22. The male segments also are preferablyformed as an extrude strip providing the dovetail tab defined by theoutwardly diverging ribs 24.

In FIG. 6 the female locking segments are formed by the molding of aflexible synthetic thermoplastic resin to provide a socket 26 whichdefines a spherical segment somewhat greater than a hemisphere. Thecomplimentary male locking segment also preferably is molded of the sameor similar material to form an outwardly projecting ball 28 matching thesize and shape of the socket. The female and male segments are bonded orotherwise secured to the sides of the tubing 10 in appropriate positionsfor securing a plurality of tubings together to form the longitudinallyoffset rows illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that the ball and socket members illustrated inFIG. 6 may be formed as elongated grooves and ribs, respectively, in themanner of the female and male locking segments illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the compositeassembly of tubes is disposed in substantially vertical positionadjacent the rearward side of an assembly bench 30. As shown, theassembly is inclined slightly rearward for support against a verticalwall 32. A bar 34 on the bench serves to engage the bottom end of therearwardmost row to maintain the assembly in proper position.

For use in the inclined position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each tubeis closed at its bottom end by means of an end wall 36 (FIG. 3). In theembodiment illustrated the end wall has an inner surface which inclinesforwardly so that cut wires and the like disposed within the tube slideforward at the bottom end for easy access of the operator. For thispurpose each tube is provided with a front opening 38 adjacent thebottom wall through which the fingers may be inserted to grasp a cutwire or the like for removal from the tube.

In order that the opening 38 in each tube 10 be exposed for access bythe user, the tubes in each row disposed in front of another rowterminate at their bottom ends above the openings in the tubes of thenext rearward row, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This is accommodated by thefrictional interengagement of the male and female locking segments ofthe embodiments illustrated in FIGS 4 and 5 and by the predeterminedpositioning of the male and female locking segments of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides economical and effective means by which to store and dispense amultiplicity of cut wires and the like. By virtue of the interlockingmale and female locking segments secured to or otherwise formed integralwith each tube, a multiplicity of tubes may be assembled in any lengthand number of rows desired for an assembly station. Since the assemblyof tubes is self-supporting and therefore requires no external frame orhousing, the assembly may be modified at any time to reduce or expandthe unit. Further, because of the arrangement of interlocking segmentswhich accommodates arrangement of the tubes in vertically staggeredrows, with each tube provided with a bottom closed end and an adjacentaccess opening, the assembly of tubes may be disposed substantiallyvertically at the rear side of an assembly bench for most effectiveutility while occupying a minimum of space.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the size, number, type and arrangement of parts describedhereinbefore, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may beused, I claim:

1. A storage and dispensing for cut wires and the like, comprising a. aplurality of elongated straight hollow tubes of uniform cross section,

b. two female connector members and two male connector members on eachtube, the connector members being disposed at intervals about theperiphery of the tube, 0, The female connector members on said tubesbeing in releasable locking engagement with the male connector membersof other of said tubes for securing the tubes together in substantiallyparallel and predetermined longitudinal relationship, a bottom wallclosing the bottom end of each tube, and an access opening in the lowerend of each tube terminating at its lower end above the bottom wall, theunit being disposed with the tubes extending substantially verticallyand including at least tow rows of tubes, one disposed in front of theother with the bottom of the front row being disposed above the accessopenings in the next rearward row.

1. A storage and dispensing for cut wires and the like, comprising a. aplurality of elongated straight hollow tubes of uniform cross section,b. two female connector members and two male connector members on eachtube, the connector members being disposed at 90* intervals about theperiphery of the tube, c. The female connector members on said tubesbeing in releasable locking engagement with the male connector membersof other of said tubes for securing the tubes together in substantiallyparallel and predetermined longitudinal relationship, d. a bottom wallclosing the bottom end of each tube, and e. an access opening in thelower end of each tube terminating at its lower end above the bottomwall, f. the unit being disposed with the tubes extending substantiallyvertically and including at least tow rows of tubes, one disposed infront of the other with the bottom of the front row being disposed abovethe access openings in the next rearward row.